PEF ‘appalled’ by layoffs, says offer was ‘harsh and painful’

The Public Employees Federation is speaking up about the state worker layoffs, as that process is starting. In doing so, they have also lifted — slightly — the cone of silence that has covered the negotiations between PEF/CSEA and the state.

Their release notes that the governor’s team has offered just one contract proposal, similar to the one that was offered to and rejected by the much smaller Council 82 union earlier this year. If you recall, that called for a three-year wage freeze with higher health insurance costs, although that union had a carrot in the form of a retroactive settlement.

Here is PEF’s release:

Leaders of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) are appalled to learn the governor plans to move forward with thousands of state layoffs as PEF’s contract negotiating team continues to wait for a response from the state’s negotiators in an attempt to reach an agreement.

“We have a concrete offer on the table that would save the state hundreds of millions of dollars while preserving services and avoiding layoffs. Yet the governor is now directing that thousands of dedicated state employees will hit the streets,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.

“The state’s team offered us just one contract proposal that was unnecessarily harsh and painful. A nearly identical plan was rejected outright by employees represented by Council 82.

“The demands from the governor’s team would result in the average PEF member losing up to $10,000 in total compensation.

“We continued to negotiate in good faith, offering a counter proposal that included givebacks that add up to the union’s share of the work force savings called for in the state budget. If the union’s proposals are extended to the full state work force the savings will equal $450 million,” Brynien said.

“The governor, all along, has wanted to take money out of the pockets of dedicated, middle class, taxpaying state employees while handing the wealthy a $5 billion tax break,” Brynien said. “We offered givebacks equal to what the governor asked for, but that wasn’t enough. Apparently, it’s Cuomo’s way or no way and it’s the state work force and its citizens who rely on the services state employees provide who will pay the price.

“We cannot and will not have these demands forced on us. We are urging the governor to accept our concessions that would result in the savings he seeks to achieve,” Brynien added.